towing & gear selection

Submitted: Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 18:11
ThreadID: 76459 Views:4097 Replies:7 FollowUps:10
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Hi again,
Just towed my van for the first time with my new Nissan 2.5 T/D navara manual, no problems there{100% better & easy'r then my other 2008 rodeo}. but was thinking, should i use 6th gear ?? or stay in 5th ??. On a longer road i did use 6th at 110klms @ just under 3000 rpm,is this to much on the transmission ? would like to know what others may do or say.
many thanks
Dave
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Reply By: Redback - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 18:23

Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 18:23
I use 5th gear in my Disco towing our camper without any dramas in 230,000ks.

Baz.
AnswerID: 406732

Follow Up By: Redback - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 18:24

Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 18:24
Only have 5 gears!!
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FollowupID: 676528

Follow Up By: Notso - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 21:01

Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 21:01
Disco Gearboxes have/or Had all the gears on the main cluster so aren't affected by the "Overdrive" issue.

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FollowupID: 676572

Follow Up By: nicko007 - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 09:13

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 09:13
take it from me im just about to buy a 2010 triton i did look at the nissans .but found out from a nissans macanic wifs frends hubby that they r having problems with the clutchs going and some gear boxs with people towing so do not tow in 6 gear it is only a overdrive when not towing .
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FollowupID: 676633

Follow Up By: nicko007 - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 09:21

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 09:21
what type of van , how long , how heavy is it load ? would be nice as i dont know how the triton will tow ?
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Follow Up By: Notso - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 13:18

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 13:18
I Tow a full van all up it weighs a tad over 2 tonne.

The triton is a manual, 2006 model, towed the van for most of it's 3.5 years and 85,000ks. No issues yet, economical, powerful, seats are a bit hard for the wife but 50mm of latex foam fixed that. I find the seats fine it's just that the princess feels every bump.

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Reply By: Notso - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 18:28

Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 18:28
There are two differing opinions on this.

Some say town in the direct 1 to 1 gear, eg in most 5 speed boxes this is 4th.

In the 6 speed Navarra I think 5th is direct, although I have seen the gearbox specs of the new Kia Sorrento and it has no direct drive gear.

Basically this means that the drive is going straight through the box without any "overdrive"

So, I usually tow in 4th in my 5 speed Triton, but if I am on a freeway and get up around the 90-95kph I drop it into top.

I have done fuel economy tests in top and 4th and there's only a bees whisker difference.

Friend of mine finds his Navarra goes best using 5th whilst towing his 5th wheeler.

AnswerID: 406734

Reply By: rocco2010 - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 18:45

Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 18:45
Gidday

My Ford Ranger has specific towing instructions in the owner's handbook. I'd have a look at the Nissan one and see what that says.

Cheers
AnswerID: 406739

Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 19:17

Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 19:17
I Always tow in wth in my 5sp auto Cruiser HAve done for 50,000k with no trouble.

Exhaust temp is 75 deg cooler than in 5th and fuel usage is normal

Go here and read this thread about it

My replys and several other worthwhile to read


http://forum.candm.com.au/showthread.php?t=3900

Should answer your questions I would think
AnswerID: 406745

Follow Up By: kend88 - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 20:15

Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 20:15
I am not that technically inclined, but I understand that in almost all transmissions the hardware(cogs/spindles/shafts whatever) for overdrives is not intended to take any strain, and will usually eventually fail if used under load.
The direct drive is the recommended towing cog, and in most cases will give as good or better economy as overdrive, without the risk of eventual costly transmission/gearbox failure.
For petrol engines particularly, I understand a free revving engine is going to have fewer problems than one under stress.
Once you get used to the higher revving sound, (just turn your radio up), you will probably find it a more relaxing drive than having to constantly change up and down out of overdrive.

kenD
bris
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FollowupID: 676557

Reply By: Member - Kevin B1 (WA) - Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 20:06

Monday, Mar 01, 2010 at 20:06
This question has come up many times and with different vehicles. My experience with this is, with the older Toyota 5 speed boxes it was considered suicide to tow in fifth gear,I owned two and had gearbox failure with both. The Nissan was a different matter and seldom had problems, also owned two Patrols and one Navara D22, a much better and stronger box. With the late model vehicles this problem I think has just about been sorted out. However IMO I think it comes down to a matter of common sense, as I tow to fit the road conditions, eg, on flat roads when the going is easy or with a good tail wind I tow in fifth. If the terrain changes to hills or more than gentle undulations, or I am copping a decent head wind I drop down to fourth.I have been doing this for years now with no problems at all.
AnswerID: 406753

Follow Up By: the redbacks - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 16:07

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 16:07
couldn't agree with you more Kevin B1
thank you
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FollowupID: 676697

Reply By: vk1dx - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 09:21

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 09:21
Of course you can use sixth. But depending on whether its a diesel or petrol you will get a different response. Certainly won't hurt the car. But why run a diesel any higher anyway. Get up around the red limit and thats where you can start to damage it. But why!! Its a diesel.

Its a matter of finding the best torque range for your motor, transmission and wheels setup. And stay in that range and that torque. Its the same whether you are towing or not.

Looks like you have found the top of the range already. We never run the motor over 3000rpm. Not because it may hurt the motor but thats where we found that if you go over it you get less "bank for your buck" from the extra revs. We either change up a gear if not in top or slow down because we are going too fast if already in top gear. It even gets down to 1500 at times on an extreemly gentle accelerator and atthe top of a hill. Just "let" it run over and speed up going down the other side. Of course don't screw around with holding people up and annoying them. But experiment and find your range.

I like the way she just "goes" up the really steep rough hills in low 2nd and at 1500 revs. The 4.2 TD is a top combo. As I say "point and go".

Phil
AnswerID: 406836

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 11:48

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 11:48
That post of mine did not work and I cannot delete it nor edit.

Just ignore it please all.

Phil
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FollowupID: 676654

Follow Up By: the redbacks - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 16:04

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 16:04
hi Phil, it's a diesel, & i did just what you have mentioned, and she went like a dream, but it was just a worry whether i was doing the right thing, i normanlly also go by "engine sound" not just the rev counter, anyway many thanks for all the thoughts from all of you, good response
regards
Dave.
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FollowupID: 676695

Follow Up By: vk1dx - Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 16:17

Tuesday, Mar 02, 2010 at 16:17
Hi Dave

I drove a lot of bigger diesels in my driving days with the Army (dare not say how long ago). Big brutes that carried Canturions, D9's etc. But these engines and gearboxes leave them for dead. Not in size but in being "user friendly". Now where have I heard that before.

They just seem to go there. And when in the rough with a good box under the floor it is even heaps easier.

We have an auto but we both like to take a little control away from it and choose our own gears. Couldn't do that with the old hydromatic holden boxes.

Its like a sixth sense after a while to get the car to just "run on" with a little bit on the accelerator. You get the feel of which gear to be in. Just use the torque and momentum.


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FollowupID: 676698

Reply By: PatrolSTL04 - Wednesday, Mar 03, 2010 at 01:03

Wednesday, Mar 03, 2010 at 01:03
Dave,

I have towed 2.5 tonne with my manual Patrol in 5th for 5 years. So far no issues. Just drop down to 4th or even 3rd on inclines.

My VW Touareg now looks after the heavy towing duties. 3.5 tonne in 6th gear in sport mode kicks in from 80kph. The 7 metre horse trailer is just about hitched up all the time and we travel up to 500 kms like this. VW Manual suggests using sport mode for towing greater 2.5 tonne, and let auto do it all. Its gots a kick ar-e oil cooler.

If manufacturer has a rating, the car should be able to do it in all gears I would suggest.

If it strains, maybe drop back a cog or two.

Brett....

AnswerID: 407004

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